The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley

This second book in the mystery series features a precocious 11 year old sleuth, Flavia De Luce. Set in the 1950s on an English family country estate, Buckshaw, our young heroine has a talent for chemistry with a keen interest in poisons. Her wanderings throughout the village of Bishop’s Lacey introduce a cast of quirky characters. The mystery centers around a pair of traveling BBC puppet TV show stars, Rupert and Nia, whose truck breaks down in the village. In need of car repairs, the pair agrees to perform for the village residents to settle their bill. During one of the performances, puppetmaster Rupert dies under mysterious circumstances. Flavia’s keen observations and curious nature help her to solve the plot twists and give local police insight on the case.

Descriptive language, yet ungory handling of death situations make this series appropriate to recommend to young advanced readers who enjoy mysteries.

Kyra

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

Last book in the Millennium trilogy, this one picks up where The Girl Who Played With Fire left off. Lisbeth Salander clings to life in the intensive care unit with a bullet in her head compliments of a confrontation with Alexander Zalachenko. While Lisbeth grapples with plotting revenge, Mikael Blomkvist keeps busy by rounding up the supporting characters to advocate and prove Lisbeth’s innocence and unravel the conspiracy that ascends to top levels of Swedish government. Another fast-paced, “hard to put down” read that nicely finishes off the trilogy. Due out in the US on May 25.

The Swedish film version of the first book of the trilogy, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was released in April 2010 in independent movie theatres and there are plans for an English-language version in production to come out sometime in 2012.

Kyra

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

Valentine Roncalli is from an Italian American family living in the Greenwich Village area of New York City working as a cobbler of custom made shoes. Readers will share the struggles of a young woman working to modernize and save the family business, Angelini Shoe Company, while encountering challenges with family and romantic interests. Vivid descriptions, work challenges, and romantic tensions will keep you interested. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Kyra

Open by Andre Agassi

Remarkably candid book from a tennis icon who grew to hate the sport he’d been groomed for. Pressured for success from the cradle, Agassi shares his angst-filled journey to find self-identity both on and off the court. In the process, he opens himself to acceptance of his talent, love, and giving back to his hometown community in Las Vegas. Wide-ranging appeal for non-sports fans and sports fans alike.

Kyra